I don't know about the tired thing, because if that's the case then I would be super creative in the early afternoon during my food coma. Being unfocused however is something that I have seen as effective, as I find that I get my best ideas in the shower. I guess doing some routine activity with no distractions (like music, chatter) allows my brain to wander and come up with some great stuff. Now if only I can install a shower in my new office...
"Listening to" doesn't necessarily mean "agree with." He has obviously listened to fans since he is responding to the complaints by fans in explaining the Greedo thing.
I might get in trouble for this comment, but here goes: Lucas should stop listening to and responding to the fans. He made the movies and he should let them stand on their own, for better or for worse. No explanations, no tinkering with editing or cuts, just let it go. At this stage, it doesn't matter what he does anyway. He's past the point of no return. Fans will always have a negative opinion of him. At the same time, they're still buying whatever comes out that's Star Wars related, so the extra work to "correct" things is pointless either way.
I have some of the same concerns as Canned Poodle, but since that comment will most likely be banhammered (it's a bit insulting), I will post a new one. I don't necessarily think you are being paid off for positive stories, but it would be reassuring to get your take on how you handle these potential conflict of interest issues.
I'm betting that they are the Chitauri from the Ultimate Universe. The Marvel movie 'verse has drawn from it so often, why not use their villains as well?
It's 2012, the year of the Mayan Apocolypse, so get used to it. Maybe in 2013 when we've realized that the world isn't going to end just yet that the trend will die down.
Since the Marvel Movie Universe borrows heavily from the Ultimate Universe, I'm going with the Chitauri as the alien race. And a cameo by Freddy Prince Jr.